The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-18
CONVICT. CATCHERs.
Die Yeiiev Deg, Esnpieyet 70 Chase xun-
aws.y Rriseuers n Aiabsssa.


Fyvr, ne 81 Lot,is e,eee Democrat
There Ii something besides moral suasion
and good treatment on which the lessees Of the
conviets 81 Pratt mines rely to maint IA, me
safS kssRng Of o sanyists ana ny
bullets from q sinEle rifie 10 break Ior liberty,
made. The explanation 10 found lii the pres.
bounds which Ne about he stSeEade. The
Inv the fnest fraiers In the State 4 not IN
the entire south. One name time is taken In
snd t puy f TSass the
They are on the best forms In the world with
walk out OF prison and the trsilers would only
beat their tails spprpyinE upon thS Er9ha,na
are utterly worthless. snve for one thing: They
are as friendly to the stranger 20 to the man
sssp and eat they a. not 1 ht among
themselves. But lot them be called out and
the I ITsiI he given them. 1t matters not whose
In this connection MIR. Simmons tella some
Interesting things about following the 81 bounds:
a. Sf M 's ssSs
Of the chase. Il seems to take that distance
for the dogs to get the scent hxed; II we put
cred the 200 yards they come, to whore some-
body has CROSSED the course OF the one We are
Pe hSrs
But when the first 900 yards have been covered
the chsae is pretty sure. II doesn't matter
the prisoner: tho dogs follow the scent with.
out any any doubt A. they run their blood warns
Mr. Simmons was asked about the varioua
devices sdopted to throw the dogs on the scent.
Dogs Of pure breed and good training" no
b sps brush s SsSind viii not do it, have
on horseback. One Of the very, few cases have
y Th hse% aos
on. We have traiisl prisoners right into ES and
course. is hard Hundreds Of people may have
trsmped over the ground after the convict has
passed. On the dirt roads Of the country the
throash big e . ". one time FL got on
a 4s sRd hs dogs n1n Ss ihe Sous
The seen. which the dogs follSw must be in i,
another question. after that negro I have
just spoken OF got on the mule, the dogs kept
Bus ss Ss Ss oP he od as
along. Changing shoes doesn't help, q man
any; Tho dogs are not thrown of by that
5s1 are The on e liz whhsS as
q sGnyict then they win do him harm" 49,
that the hounds don't bits-that they only bay
when they come up with the convict" was
That isn't true with the pure breed Of trail.
man while they are hot and will tear him. The
bites make bad wounds; they are very apt to
tester. When We start the dogs out we follow
don't injure the convict Usually he takes 70
Ssss x sSop Is shes cool 81 little they are
looking Object. AZ little distance II misht Be
heavily padded suit Of clothes. Once q week,
In the padded suit and tSild ts 70. Hs Is given
y two-hours' start usually. Then the dogs are
led out and shown the trail. Away they 20.
twelve or fifteen In the pack, the older hounds
yeipine. This Is dead earnest WORK for the
hounds Tor the trusty in, the padded suit. and
for the esss who ss to the point
Practice has reduced tho chance for escape
from the dogs to considerably less than one IN
ten, and the knowledge OF this on the part Of
ma MAKE the eor lie doss Pratt mines are
more feared than the guards are.
tho trail ?" Mr.; simmons was asked
convict out and appointed q place about six
miles distant whore he was to take to tree
when the dogs were uncomfortab!y near. The
ieE two hours hs and
Then we put the dogs on tho trail and rode
direct to the place where the chase was to end.
We went about as fast rs we wanted to ride.
climbed the dogs were there. having gone over
all the ground he had covered In the two hours.
They must have run 1t at less than four min.
ntes t0 the mile When we start GHt In earnest
anywhere near the dogs"